Suspect's 1st statement in killings heard

Man implicates self in deaths of mom, girl

February 03, 2006|By Andrew L. Wang, Tribune staff reporter

Prosecutors played a videotaped statement by serial-killer suspect Paul Runge Thursday that included grisly details of the sexual assault and slaying of a mother and daughter on the West Side nine years ago.

The former 7-Up salesman only occasionally glanced at the television monitor showing the statement he gave in June 2001. In the statement, he said he killed Yolanda Gutierrez, 35, and her daughter Jessica Muniz, 11, in their apartment on Feb. 3, 1997.

Runge's defense team contends the 36-year-old should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Frank Cappitelli, the retired detective who supervised the investigation and was present during Runge's statement, testified Thursday that he questioned Runge in Will County Jail. Tests showed DNA evidence from Jessica's body matched Runge's profile, Cappitelli said.

Runge initially denied involvement or knowledge of the killings but implicated himself after they showed him the results of the DNA analysis, Cappitelli testified.

"He said, `You know I did it. You got me. What do you want me to say?'" Cappitelli said.

The recorded statement played Thursday was the first of two taped accounts to be played for jurors.

In the first account, Runge implicated his then-wife in the slayings. But in the second, expected to be played Friday in court, prosecutors said Runge gives a different account that did not involve his wife. His now ex-wife was never charged, and prosecutors said they believe she was not involved in the killings.

In the statement played Thursday, Runge said he first went to Gutierrez's apartment Jan. 31, 1997, in response to an advertisement he saw at a local supermarket selling a reading program.

He left without buying the program, telling Gutierrez he had to consult his wife on the purchase. Runge said the reading program was for his wife's 9-year-old son.

The two returned to the apartment, in the 3100 block of North Laramie Avenue, the morning of Feb. 3, according to Runge's statement. His wife accompanied him because she did not want him to go alone to another woman's home.

They entered the studio apartment and spoke with Gutierrez. Runge said in the recording that his wife became angry because she thought Gutierrez was being "flirtatious" with him.

A physical struggle broke out between the two women, during which Gutierrez grabbed a kitchen knife and yelled at them to get out. Runge said he grappled with Gutierrez and took the knife from her. He said he used duct tape to bind her hands, did the same with her daughter, then threw them on the bed.

Runge said in the recording that he had sex with his wife on the bed. After that, Runge said, he sexually assaulted Gutierrez, then the girl.

He then cut their throats, according to the recorded statement.

The couple fled the apartment after setting the bed on fire, he said.

Prosecutors said in opening statements they believe Runge's second account, which excludes any implication of his ex-wife's involvement in the crime, is the more accurate version.

Runge is charged with the slayings of six women and the child between January 1995 and March 1997.

The murder trial at the Criminal Courts Building is his first. He previously served a prison term for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in 1987.